21 Questions with Carol Reivonen, Bluetrain’s Account Manager

I got to sit down with Carol Reivonen this week to learn a little bit more about this bubbly and driven Account Manager! See for yourself below.

1.
RB: Where did you grow up?
CR: Mannville, Alberta.

2.
RB: What did you like most about growing up in Manville?
CR: I liked that you knew everybody. It was a tight-knit community and everyone helped each other out. Whenever I go back it feels like home.

3.
RB: Any siblings?
CR: Three.

4.
RB: What words would your family use to describe you?
CR: Oh dear… (laughs) compassionate, patient, honest, a good cook, and I hope funny too.

5.
RB: What is your family like?
CR: My siblings and I are all completely different. Even though our parents raised us the same, we all ended up as completely different people. We do all have some similarities though. Mom and Dad gave us roots and wings and taught us to be independent but to have a good heart. To be compassionate, to be leaders, and to make sure you look out for others. We really did live by “The Golden Rule”.
RB: That’s so sweet!

6.
RB: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
CR: Mary Tyler Moore. Haha!

7.
RB: How would you describe your family’s heritage?
CR: Dad’s family is Scottish. Mom’s is Ukrainian. We are all very proud Canadians and have celebrated every July 1st that I can remember.

8.
RB: What made you decide to apply to Bluetrain?
CR: I wanted to learn something new and do something different. I’m fascinated by marketing and advertising campaigns and how you see things take off because a marketing person somewhere did something that made it happen – like the Michelin Stars! You can watch an industry change. Those little ideas that turn into the next big things and you can see how advertising and sales impact our world. I also like that Bluetrain is in Sherwood Park and I’d heard good things about the company. Digital marketing really is THE trend. Traditional marketing is fading and I wanted to work in an exciting field that could take me through the rest of my career.

9.
RB: What do you think about the world of digital marketing?
CR: I’ve been involved in marketing and advertising for many companies and have not always been able to see exactly what our marketing dollar did for us! You may spend $20,000 on a billboard campaign and have very little idea what results you gained. Now, you spend $20,000 in digital, and I can tell you EXACTLY what your results are. After spending thousands on advertising through the years and having very little idea of what the results actually were, it is a refreshing change to show a client exactly what they have achieved for their budget.
RB: Yes! Results-driven marketing!

10.
RB: What do you take away from your past work experience that you’ll apply to your current position at Bluetrain?
CR: I always put myself in the client’s shoes. My goal as an account manager is to make the client’s business grow and succeed. The more successful my clients are, the more I enjoy my position. Being part of the Bluetrain team and the values they work to lets me consider the client’s needs first. When I’m in the client’s office, I’m always asking, “What can Bluetrain offer to make your business the best it can be?”

11.
RB: Favourite food?
CR: I don’t have one! I have decided I love and appreciate all good food.
RB: That’s awesome! Were you always like that or were you a picky eater when you were little?
CR: I wouldn’t say I was picky, but my mom might. Haha!

12.
RB: Mushrooms or olives? Or do you like both?
CR: Totally olives!

13.
RB: What do you do for fun?
CR: I like going on adventures with my family and that can be the smallest thing like discovering a restaurant on Whyte Avenue or a new trail in the river valley, or going shopping. I also enjoy golf.

14.
RB: What do you do to relax?
CR: Sleep!
*Both laugh*
RB: Great answer!
CR: And long hot baths.

15.
RB: What is your guilty pleasure?
CR: I don’t think anything that gives you pleasure should make you feel guilty. Maybe more like my embarrassing pleasure would be playing Candy Crush or watching Days of our Lives.
RB: Haha! I love that show! I used to watch all the time.
CR: I’ve almost broken free of it! My very first job was a bit boring and I had a set of headphones that picked up on ITV (Global TV now) so I could listen to three hours of soap operas in the afternoon and it would get me from 1-4 p.m. – I’d never seen any of the characters, I’d never watched the show but I got absolutely hooked on Days. Shortly after that, VCRs came out so I’d tape it and then I didn’t watch it for years but when I went on maternity leave I’d watch it all the time! And now you can watch it on the Global App.
RB: Uh oh, don’t tell me that! Haha!

16.
RB: Favourite book or movie?
CR: Favourite movie is definitely Forrest Gump because that’s how I live my life. Instead of trying to swim upstream, learn to turn around and go with the flow. That way you’ll see the rocks coming and you can just bounce off of them and life is much easier that way. Forrest Gump always reminded me of that.

17.
RB: This is a mandatory question from Bryan: do you play volleyball or squash?
CR: Volleyball. A long time ago. I’m not very good at it.
RB: That’s okay. It’s all about having fun!
CR: I was the captain of our volleyball team.
RB: Wow, captain!
CR: The only reason though is because I was the only one who volunteered. No one else wanted to do it.
*Both laugh*

18.
RB: Summer or winter?
CR: I honestly like both but I would have to pick summer because there is no shovelling!

19.
RB: Tea or Coffee?
CR: Coffee. But I never had a full cup until I was 37.
RB: And now you’re hooked?
CR: Now I’m hooked but only one cup a day and it has to be good coffee!
RB: Good rule to live by.
CR: Once my baby started teething, I was so tired and people kept pushing me to have a coffee so finally I did and thought, “Hey! That meeting wasn’t so bad!”
RB: Haha! That’s awesome.

20.
RB: Cupcakes or cookies?
CR: Either but they have to be homemade.
RB: If I baked like you I would say that too! (Side note: Carol is an amazing baker!)